Plectrum mounting apparatus and method of use

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment, a plectrum apparatus comprises a ring capable of being releasably mounted to a user&#39;s finger, and a harness capable of releasably securing a plectrum, the harness being hingedly coupled to the ring. In one embodiment, a first spring is further provided and configured to bias the harness in a stowed position. A plectrum secured to the harness may be positioned toward a thumb side of the user&#39;s finger in the stowed position when the ring is mounted on the user&#39;s finger. The harness may be further capable of being retracted in a deployed position, the plectrum secured to the harness engaged between the user&#39;s finger and thumb.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to musical instruments, and, moreparticularly, to a plectrum mounting apparatus for users of stringsmusical instruments.

BACKGROUND

A plectrum, also referred to as a “plec,” “pick” or “flat-pick,” is asmall, typically flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed musicalinstrument. For guitars, banjos and similar instruments, the plectrum isa separate tool held in the player's hand during use.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a plectrum 100 in atypical triangular shape with rounded corners, although the size, shapeand width of plectra vary considerably. The thickness, shape, andmaterial used for forming the plectrum may be varied to accommodate userpreferences for handling and/or to color the style of play. Plectra forguitars are made of a variety of materials, including celluloid, metal,and, in some cases, exotic materials such as stone, but plastic is themost common in recent times. For other instruments in the modern daymost players use plastic plectra but a variety of other materials,including wood and felt (for use with the ukulele) are common.

In addition to playing a string musical instrument with a plectrum,users can also play the instrument directly, e.g., with the user's thumband/or fingers without use of a tool. For guitar, play, for example,such style of play is commonly referred to as “finger-style” or“finger-picking” in contrast to the style of play involving use of aplectrum, which is often referred to as “flat-picking.”

One challenge that has plagued users of stringed musical instruments forsome time has been the inability to quickly and efficiently alternatebetween flat-picking and finger-style methods of play due to theinability of the plectrum to be readily stowed and retrieved in a timelyand repeatable manner. Often players desiring to alternate between thetwo styles noted above resort to cumbersome techniques, such asdiscarding plectra after a period of use and retrieving another one froma dispenser when subsequently needed. Another common approach is tostore the plectrum in the user's mouth when not needed. Both approacheshave the disadvantage of requiring the user to move the playing handaway from the string area to engage in the storage and retrieval, whichmay negatively result in mistiming play. The former approach has thefurther disadvantage of requiring multiple picks to be readilyavailable, requiring clean up, and requiring a dispenser proximatelylocated to the user, which may limit the player's mobility. The latterapproach may further introduce the player's saliva onto the plectrumwhich can be transferred to the strings of the instrument, resulting inearly decay and deterioration of the strings.

Existing devices have been attempted to provide means for stowing andretrieving a plectrum during play. A common deficiency in existingplectrum holders, however, is that the plectrum is fixedly attached tothe means for mounting the holder to the user's finger. As such, theangle between the plectrum and the player's finger is fixed, resultingin reduced flexibility of playing positions. Moreover, storage andretrieval often involves a cumbersome rotation of the mounting means.Furthermore, the plectrum body is not replaceable and is subject to wearand breakage. Examples of such attempts include U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,237and U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,243. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,237 hasadditional shortcomings, including, for example, the rotation of thepick around the forefinger being unassisted and does not place theretracted pick in a position where it will not interfere with thestrings when playing finger-style. Similarly, while U.S. Pat. No.2,776,592 provides a means for pivotally connecting the plectrumrelative to the mounting means, storage and retrieval is awkward.Moreover, the position of the plectrum in play mode is significantlycompromised, being in a fixed plane normal to the axis.

Alternatively attempts for providing storage and retrieval of theplectrum have provided more range of movement for the plectrum withrespect to means for fixing the holder to the user, but such attemptsoften require awkward movements for storage and/or retrieval. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,020 does not provide for a reliablyrepeatable retrieval of the pick, as the mechanism is attached to thewrist and is subject to varied motion relative to the hand and fingersused for retrieval. Furthermore, rotation of the pick cannot becontrolled. At best, it would take thumb, forefinger and visualreference to retrieve the plectrum. The device is also cumbersome,extending from the wrist over the back of the hand. Likewise U.S. Pat.No. 5,837,913 stows the plectrum in a cavity within the user's hand. Toavoid the plectrum interfering with the strings during finger-styleplay, one would require a learned contortion technique and modificationsof the user's style of play. Indeed, the rotation of the stowed pick isnot governed or otherwise indexed, resulting in visual reference andvaried time intervals for retrieval.

Accordingly, there exist a strong need in the field for a plectrummounting apparatus for readily stowing and retrieving a plectrum duringplay.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of plectrum apparatuses for usewith stringed musical instruments. According to an embodiment, aplectrum apparatus comprises a ring capable of being releasably mountedto a user's finger, and a harness capable of releasably securing aplectrum, the harness being hingedly coupled to the ring. In oneembodiment, a first spring is further provided and configured to biasthe harness in a stowed position. A plectrum secured to the harness maybe positioned toward a thumb side of the user's finger in the stowedposition when the ring is mounted on the user's finger. The harness maybe further capable of being retracted in a deployed position, theplectrum secured to the harness engaged between the user's finger andthumb.

According to one embodiment, the harness is hingedly coupled to the ringabout an axis which is not parallel to a plane defined by the ring. Forexample, the harness may be hingedly coupled to the ring about an axisapproximately thirty to sixty degrees relative to a plane defined by thering.

According to one embodiment, the harness may comprise a first clawportion hingedly coupled to a second claw portion, and a spring biasingthe first and second claw portions in a closed position. According toanother embodiment, the ring may comprise a first arm portion hingedlycoupled to a second arm portion, and a spring biasing the first andsecond arm portions in a closed position.

According to another embodiment, the harness member and the plectrum maybe an integral unit, and may be considered a plectrum module. Accordingto this particular embodiment, the plectrum apparatus comprises a ringcapable of being releasably mounted to a user's finger, and a plectrummodule, the plectrum module being hingedly coupled to the ring

In one embodiment, a first spring is further provided and configured tobias the plectrum module in a stowed position. A plectrum component ofthe plectrum module may be positioned toward a thumb side of the user'sfinger in the stowed position when the ring is mounted on the user'sfinger. The plectrum module may be further capable of being retracted ina deployed position, the plectrum component of the plectrum moduleengaged between the user's finger and thumb.

In one embodiment, the plectrum module is hingedly coupled to the ringabout an axis which is not parallel to a plane defined by the ring. Forexample, the plectrum module may be hingedly coupled to the ring aboutan axis approximately thirty to sixty degrees relative to a planedefined by the ring.

According to one embodiment, the ring may comprise a first arm portionhingedly coupled to a second arm portion, and a spring biasing the firstand second arm portions in a closed position.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become morereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewingthe following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a plectrum according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of an exemplary plectrum mountingapparatus according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2B depicts a perspective view of another exemplary plectrummounting apparatus according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 3A through 3D depict an exemplary plectrum mounting apparatus invarious positions of deployment and/or stowage according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary ring member according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a harness ring member according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary plectrum apparatusaccording to one embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict perspective views of another exemplary plectrumapparatus according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 2A, there is shown a perspective view ofexemplary plectrum mounting apparatus 200 according to one embodiment.Plectrum mounting apparatus 200 includes ring member 202 capable ofbeing releasably mounted to a user's finger (not shown). Apparatus 200further comprises harness member 204 capable of releasably securing aplectrum, such as plectrum 100 shown in FIG. 2A. One end of ring member202 includes an interface for hingedly coupling ring member 202 toharness member 204. As shown in FIG. 2A, the interface between ringmember 202 and harness member 204 forms hinge 206 defined along axis210.

Referring to FIG. 2B, plectrum mounting apparatus 200 of FIG. 2A isshown according to another perspective view. In FIG. 2B, harness member204 is shown in a first stowed position 220 and a second deployedposition 222. As discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 2A, rotationof harness member 204 about axis 210 of hinge 206 allows the user toconveniently access plectrum 100 attached to harness member 204 to beaccessed from the stowed position 220 and position plectrum 100 indeployed position 222 during play. According to one embodiment, plectrum100 and harness member 204 are positioned in stowed position 220 forfinger-style play of a stringed musical instrument, and plectrum 100 andharness member 204 are positioned in deployed position 222 forflat-picking style of play.

Referring again to FIGS. 2A and 2B, spring 216 biases harness member 204in stowed position 220. As described in further detail below, the userengages plectrum 100 to position harness member 204 and plectrum 100 indeployed position 222. Since spring 216 biases harness member 204 instowed position 220, stowed position 220 can be considered the restposition of harness member 204. When the user engages plectrum 100 toposition harness member 204 and plectrum 100 in deployed position 222,e.g., during flat-picking style of play, the user can quickly returnharness member 204 and plectrum 100 to stowed position 220 by simplyreleasing engagement of plectrum 100.

Ring member 202 defines plane 230 generally along its radial axis.According to one exemplary embodiment, hinge 206 is aligned such thataxis 210 of hinge 206 is not parallel to plane 230 of ring member 202.According to one exemplary embodiment, hinge 206 is aligned such thataxis 210 of hinge 206 is not perpendicular to plane 230 of ring member202. According to one exemplary embodiment, hinge 206 is aligned suchthat axis 210 of hinge 206 is diagonally positioned or askew from plane230 of ring member 202. For example, angle 232 defined between axis 210and plane 230 may be between 20 degrees to 70 degrees. By varying thediagonal angle of axis 210 relative to plane 230, plectrum 100 can bepositioned in a natural position or otherwise user-preferentialposition, when engaged by the user in deployed position 222 duringflat-picking style of play or other active uses when engaging stringplay using plectrum 100.

Harness member 204 is capable of releasably securing a plectrum, such asplectrum 100. According to one embodiment, harness member 204 is made offlexible material, such as plastic or other composite material. Variousmeans for releasably securing plectra may be employed. In oneembodiment, plectrum may be sandwiched between shoulders 212 and 214 onopposing sides of harness member 204 as shown in FIG. 2A. According toone embodiment, and in order to further enhance security of plectrumwithin harness member 204, one or more pins extending from one or moreof the shoulders 212 and/or 214 may engage corresponding apertures,cavities or indentures within plectrum 100 as depicted in FIG. 2A.Moreover, various sizes of such harness members may be utilized toaccommodate various size, shapes, and thicknesses of plectra.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A through 3D, there is shown exemplary plectrummounting apparatus 200, wherein the ring member is mounted to user'ssecond phalange of the forefinger on the striking hand, i.e., the handused for strumming or picking the strings of the instrument. While theplectrum mounting apparatus shown in various embodiments herein depict astriking hand comprising a right hand, it would be readily apparent toone skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure thatthe plectrum mounting apparatus of the present invention is equallysuitable for use with the left hand.

In FIG. 3A, harness member 204 and plectrum 100 are disengaged by theuser, and, as described above, are biased and retracted in stowedposition 220. In stowed position 220, plectrum 110 attached to harnessmember 204 is positioned toward a thumb side of the user's finger. Instowed position 220, plectrum 100 does not negatively impact the user'sability to engage the instrument in a severe manner as in earliersolutions. Typically, little or no adjustment to finger-style play isrequired due to the strategic position of plectrum 100 in stowedposition 220. Yet as described below access to plectrum 100 isfacilitated and position of plectrum 100 is optimized.

In FIG. 3B, user's thumb prepares to engage plectrum 100 on the surfacefacing away from the user palm by simply reaching around plectrum 100.In FIG. 3C, the user's thumb engages plectrum 100 and/or harness member204 by pressing down, deflecting spring 216, and causing harness member204 to rotate about hinge 206.

In FIG. 3D, the user's thumb and one or more fingers engage the plectrum100 in deployed position 222. Due to the angular position of hinge 206defined between ring member 202 and harness member 204 as describedabove, the position of plectrum 100 is in an ideal position or otherwiseuser-preferential position for flat-picking style of play. By moving theuser's thumb laterally away from plectrum 100 and harness member 204,spring 216 biases plectrum 100 and harness member 204 back to stowedposition 220, as depicted in FIG. 3A. Thus, plectrum mounting apparatus200 readily facilitates alternating between various styles of play forstringed musical instruments. As illustrated by the above examples, theplectrum can be quickly accessed when desired for flat-picking style ofplay, and simply released to allow function of the user's digits forfinger-style play. Furthermore, the stowed plectrum facilitates use ofthe dominant or striking hand for amp and/or instrument adjustment,operating a keyboard and/or mouse during computer based recording,answering a phone, etc. Moreover, the plectrum is less likely to bedropped or lost during performance.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown exemplary ring member 402according to another embodiment. Like ring member 202 discussed above,ring member 402 is capable of being releasably mounted to a user'sfinger and for forming a plectrum mounting apparatus according to thepresent invention. Ring member 402 comprises arm members 403 and 405,each hingedly coupled to body member 407. Spring 409 biases arm 403against body 407 in a closed position, and spring 411 biases arm 405against body 407 in a closed position. Ring member 402 clamps around auser's finger due to the biasing of springs 409 and 411. Ring member 402is releasbly detached from a user's finger by deflecting the springaction. For example, arm extensions 413 and 415 of arms 403 and 405,respectively, may be engaged to deflect springs 409 and 411 to releasering member 402 from the user's finger. The embodiment associated withring member 402 of FIG. 4 is particularly useful when employing rigidmaterials, such as metals and other materials having low flexurequalities. Moreover, it is noted that the embodiment of FIG. 4 isillustrative only, and other embodiments, such as those including feweror more hinges are considered within the spirit and scope of theplectrum mounting apparatus disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown exemplary harness member 504according to another embodiment. Like harness member 204 discussedabove, harness member 504 is capable of being releasably mounted to aplectrum and for forming a plectrum mounting apparatus according to thepresent invention. Harness member 504 comprises claw members 503 and505, hingedly coupled to each other. Spring 509 biases claw 503 againstclaw 505 in a closed position. Harness member 504 clamps around plectrum100 due to the biasing of spring 509. Harness member 504 is releasblydetached from plectrum 100 by deflecting the spring action of spring509. For example, release lever 513 may be engaged to deflect spring 509to release plectrum 100 from harness member 504. The embodimentassociated with harness member 504 of FIG. 5 is particularly useful whenemploying rigid materials, such as metals and other materials having lowflexure qualities.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown exemplary plectrum apparatus 600according to one embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the harnessmember and plectrum comprise integral unit 604. Ring member 602 isprovided as described above, where ring member is hingedly coupled at606 to integral harness/plectrum unit 604 to provide the ability toposition the plectrum in the deployed and stowed position as describedabove. According to this particular embodiment, the plectrum in notreleasably mounted to the harness member, in contrast to the embodimentspreviously described and depicted above. For purposes of the presentdisclosure, such an “integral harness/plectrum” may also be consideredsimply as a “plectrum module.” Accordingly, the hinging means 606couples the ring member to the plectrum module. Advantageously, fewerparts are needed, and manufacturing is simplified. However, the benefitsof the plectrum apparatus allowing flexible playing positions forflatpicking and finger-style can still be provided as described above.

In particular, rotation of plectrum module 604 about axis 610 of hinge606 allows the user to conveniently access plectrum module 604 to beaccessed from a stowed position to place plectrum module 604 in adeployed position during play. As described above, spring 616 biasesplectrum module 604 in the stowed position. The user can quickly returnplectrum module 604 to the stowed position by simply releasingengagement of plectrum module 604.

Ring member 602 defines plane 630 generally along its radial axis.According to one exemplary embodiment, hinge 606 is aligned such thataxis 610 of hinge 606 is not parallel to plane 330 of ring member 602.According to one exemplary embodiment, hinge 606 is aligned such thataxis 610 of hinge 606 is not perpendicular to plane 630 of ring member602. According to one exemplary embodiment, hinge 606 is aligned suchthat axis 610 of hinge 606 is diagonally positioned or askew from plane630 of ring member 602. For example, angle 632 defined between axis 610and plane 630 may be between 20 degrees to 70 degrees.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, there are shown perspective views ofanother exemplary plectrum apparatus 700 according to one embodiment.Plectrum apparatus 700 comprises an integral unit comprising ring member702 coupled to integral harness/plectrum unit 704 (plectrum module)about an integral hinging means. According to this particularembodiment, the hinging means coupling the ring member to the integralharness/plectrum unit comprises living hinge 706 and is materiallyintegral with ring member 702 and plectrum module 704. Hinge 706 biasesplectrum module 704 in a stowed position and allows deflection by theuser to place plectrum module 704 in a deployed position as describedabove. Further, hinge 706 defines an axis which is diagonally askew froma plane defined the by the radial axis of ring member 702 in the manneras described above. Accordingly a single unit comprising a singlematerial is provided, further reducing device complexity andmanufacture.

The material used for forming the particular plectrum apparatus of FIGS.7A and 7B typically has some level of flexure to provide the ability toposition the plectrum in the deployed and stowed position as describedabove, thereby beneficially providing flexible playing positions forflatpicking and finger-style as described above.

From the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, itis manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing theconcepts of the present invention without departing from its scope.Moreover, while the invention has been described with specific referenceto certain embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art wouldrecognize that changes could be made in form and detail withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For example,while the plectrum mounting apparatus shown in various embodiments anddescribed above depict a striking hand comprising a right hand, it wouldbe readily apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of thepresent disclosure that the plectrum mounting apparatus of the presentinvention is equally suitable for use with the left hand. The describedexemplary embodiments are to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that theinvention is not limited to the particular exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein, but is capable of many rearrangements, modifications,and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. An apparatus comprising: a ring capable of being releasably mountedto a user's finger; a harness capable of releasably securing a plectrum,the harness hingedly coupled to the ring; a first spring configured tobias the harness in a stowed position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the harness is hingedly coupled to the ring about an axis whichis not parallel to a plane defined by the ring.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the harness is hingedly coupled to the ring about anaxis approximately thirty to sixty degrees relative to a plane definedby the ring.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the spring comprises ahinge integral with the ring and the plectrum module.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein a plectrum secured to the harness is positionedtoward a thumb side of the user's finger in the stowed position when thering is mounted on the user's finger.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the harness is further capable of being retracted in a deployedposition, a plectrum secured to the harness engaged between the user'sfinger and thumb.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the harnesscomprises a first claw portion hingedly coupled to a second clawportion, and a spring biasing the first and second claw portions in aclosed position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ring comprisesa first arm portion hingedly coupled to a second arm portion, and aspring biasing the first and second arm portions in a closed position.9. An apparatus comprising: a ring capable of being releasably mountedto a user's finger; a plectrum module, the plectrum module hingedlycoupled to the ring; a first spring configured to bias the plectrummodule in a stowed position.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein theplectrum module is hingedly coupled to the ring about an axis which isnot parallel to a plane defined by the ring.
 11. The apparatus of claim10, wherein the plectrum module is hingedly coupled to the ring about anaxis approximately thirty to sixty degrees relative to a plane definedby the ring.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a plectrum componentof the plectrum module is positioned toward a thumb side of the user'sfinger in the stowed position when the ring is mounted on the user'sfinger.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plectrum module isfurther capable of being retracted in a deployed position, a plectrumcomponent of the plectrum module engaged between the user's finger andthumb.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the spring comprises a hingeintegral with the ring and the plectrum module.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein the ring comprises a first arm portion hingedly coupledto a second arm portion, and a spring biasing the first and second armportions in a closed position.
 16. An apparatus comprising: ring meanscapable of being releasably mounted to a user's finger; means forhingedly coupling a plectrum to the ring means; a first springconfigured to bias the plectrum module in a stowed position.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for hingedly coupling theplectrum comprises harness means for releasably coupling the plectrum,the harness means hingedly coupled to the ring means about an axis whichis not parallel to a plane defined by the ring means.